With his own productions featuring in the Kana Show on several occasions, it is no suprise that Richard Belsom, head of London-based Phobic Records, would be our first Feature Artist. A great producer, energetic DJ and all round top bloke, Richard has been working tirelessly for over 13 years to develop his craft. His new label, in partnership with Claire Ripley, kicked off to a great start at the end of 2008 with great releases from Harnessnoise, Sona Sound and more recently with Border Communiy’s Avus. If you like laid back grooves or enjoy the deep hypnotic rhythms of minimal through to chugging tech house, breaks and techn, then Richard is definitely someone to look out for.

As promised, Richard has prepared an exclusive mix for your listening pleasure.

Tracklisting:

01. Skat – Firefly’s

02. Peace Division – Revival

03. Ekkohaus – Soulshine

04. Claire Ripley – Utopia

05. Justin Margovan – From The Beginning [Phobic Records]

06. Matthias Meyer & Patlac – Salt City

07. Tom Clark & Daniel Dreier – 13 Cookies

08. M.N.L. & Jhon Doe – Blueberry (Alex Young Tutti Frutti Mix)

09. Peace Division – Freak It

10. Josh Wink – Counter Clock 319

11. Sona Sound – Nervous Breakdown (Inxec Remix) [Phobic Records]

12. Dave Aju – Crazy Place

BIO:

Originating from Maidstone in Kent, a town famed for generating an influx of talent currently flooding todays dance scene, Richard Belsom has established himself as one of the UK’s finest up and coming DJ’s/producers.

No stranger to the scene, his unquenchable passion for dance music stems from over a decade of treading the boards of various clubs and events across the globe. It was this passion that inspired Richard to combine his several years of classical music training with his love of dance music to fulfil a role that would place him on the other side of the turntables by becoming a DJ, producer, label partner in Cubism with Tony Thomas, and most recently starting his own Phobic Records label.

Richard’s love for mixing started back in ’95 at the tender age of just 16, spending every space penny on vinyl. After a few months practice Richard decided to apply his skills to a live audience and got a residency at a local U18’s party, this was to earn him alot of experience and learning opportunity over the 3 years he held the residency. Eventually deciding that weekends were far too cherished for the likes of u18’s parties Richard left to pursue his other main passion Рclubbing. This is where he discovered his love for house music, totally inspired by dj’s like Sasha, Digweed, Danny Howells.

Since finishing in the semi finals of the Rhythm Clash DJ competition a few years back (held in association with Pioneer and Club Class), Richard’s portfolio has seen him go onto play some of the biggest clubs and festivals in the UK and Ibiza including Ministry of Sound in London, Stealth in Nottingham, The Gallery at Turnmills, the Electric Gardens Festival (to a 3000 strong crowd), Es Paradis and Bar M to name but a few, as well as securing residencies with no less than four club nights across the South East, as well as promoting his own Cubism events.

This portfolio doesnt just end there, seeing Richards success story go on to include warming up for or playing alongside some of the worlds finest artists including Peace Division, Layo & Bushwacka, Tom Middleton, Paolo Mojo, Ashley Caselle, King Roc, Nic Fanciulli, Klaus “Heavyweigt” Hill, Tony Thomas, The Electric Press, James Mowbray, Deepgroove, Simon Baker, Simon Morell, Luke Dzierzek, The Rogue Element, Elite Force, Precision Cuts and many more.

Richard describes his sound as ranging from laid back grooves, deep hypnotic minimal through to chugging tech house, breaks and techno. He also incorporates 3 cdj’s, keyboard, and Pioneer FX unit to push the boundaries of his sets to a new level.

Main influences include artists like Sasha, Danny Howells, James Zabiela, Justin Robertson, Peace Division, Nic Fanciulli, Paul Woolford, James Laville, Dave Clarke, Magda, Josh Wink, and Lee Burridge to name but a few.

On the production front Richard is constantly in the studio experimenting with sound and creating tracks around the genres he loves. His work has been signed to many labels including Jack Digitals, Bass For Breakfast, Ambiosphere, Cubic Records, New Era, Click Recordings, Send Records, Cubism, Evasive, Fragile Recordings, S.P. Recordings and most recently Oliver Huntemann‚Äôs Confused imprint with a huge remix from minimal giants Piemont. Richard‚Äôs production work has recieved support from various topjocks across the globe including Nic Fanciulli, Hernan Cattaneo, Paul Woolford, Yousef, King Unique, Goldfish & Der Dulz, Nicolas Masseyeff, Oxia, Spektre, Larsson, Jamie Mchugh, Tom Stephan, Deepgroove (Who reviewed Rhythm in M8 magazine), Oliver Huntemann, Bedrock legend Pole Folder who recently featured “Surrender” on his radio mix (80hz Sessions), and Tony Thomas who has just featured Drums Go on his forthcoming Cubism mix album. Recently Richard also won a remix competition judged by Global Underground star Anil Chawla and Paul Lancaster, for his remix of Anil‚Äôs track Fever (available now on Fragile Recordings).

In May 2007 Richard went into partnership with Tony Thomas in the Cubism record label. After a year working on Cubism, and 10 very succesful releases, Richard decided the time was right to set off on his own path and Phobic Records was born. Phobic will be concentrating more on pure underground music from deep house, minimal and techno with the label philosophy aimed at bringing the freshest sounds from the worlds greatest undiscovered talent alongside some of the finest established names in the scene. Already gaining support from some of the biggest DJ’s in the world including Steve Lawler, Nic Fanciulli, Audiojack, Tom Pooks, Smokin Jo, Toni Rios, Anil Chawla, Simon Baker, Harvey Mckay etc etc the label is set for huge success in 2008 and beyond.

For info, demo’s, remix enquieries or bookings e-mail belsom2@yahoo.com

Discography

I Play Music (Jack Digital)

Rhythm (Jack Digital)

Soundscape (Ambiosphere)

Surrender (Ambiosphere)

Enlightenment (Ambiosphere)

Turbulence (Cubic)

Devastator (Cubic)

Drums Go (Cubic)

Lethargy (Cubic)

Banshee (Confused Recordings)

Stomp (Erase Records)

Eye Of The Storm (Jack Digitals)

Shredder (Evasive Records)

First Light (Kitsam)

Black Sheep (Evasive Records)

Bad Acid (Unsigned)

Dad’s Home (Unsigned)

Escapism (Bass For Breakfast)

Demons (Evasive Records)

The Rage (Bass For Breakfast)

Caress Moi (Unsigned)

Remix’s

James Zabiela – Weird Science (Richard Belsom mix)

Claude Von Stroke – Deep Throat (Richard Belsom mix)

Anil Chawla – Fever (Richard Belsom Mix) (Fragile Recordings)

Lunacy Sound Division – Househeads Untied (Richard Belsom Mix) (New Era Records)

Lunacy Sound Division – House Muzica (Richard Belsom Mix) (New Era)

Tony Thomas – Double T (Richard Belsom Remix)(Cubism)

Sam Ball & Mark Gwinnett – Loca (Richard Belsom Remix) (Cubism)

Darien J – Vortex (Richard Belsom Remix) (Cubism)

Rhythm Code – Dont Stop (Richard Belsom Remix) (Cubism)

John Varney – Elektric Frequency (Richard Belsom Remix) (Cubism)

Carlos Fransisco – Raindancer (Richard Belsom’s Riders On The Storm Remix) (S.P. Recordings)

Lunacy Sound Division – Get With You (Richard Belsom Remix) (Cubism)

Dan Van Damn – Incarnate (Richard Belsom’s Hypnosis Remix) (Jack Digitals)

Access Denied – Massive (Richard Belsom’s LARGE remix) (Click Records)

Access Denied – Coconut Milk (Richard Belsom’s Milked Remix) (Send Records)

Tony Thomas – Cosmosis (Richard Belsom Remix) (Cubic Records)

Lunacy Sound Division – Suburban Zombie (Richard Belsom’s Walking Dead Remix) (Cubic Records)

Steve Linney – Straighten Out (Richard Belsom’s Bad Trip Remix) (Evasive Records)

Mike Healey – Oh Monkey You’re Mine (Richard Belsom’s Bad Monkey Remix) (Cubism)

Sam Ball & Anil Chawla – Daily Intake (Richard BelsomRemix) (Cubism)

Rob Mooney – Beehive (Richard Belsom Remix) (Bass For Breakfast)